Developmental Psych Module 8

theories of aging

wear/ tear theory not viable

primary aging

genetically influenced/ unavoidable

secondary aging

result of choices made/ avoidable

cellular theory

cells age, reach senescence/ no longer divide, trouble responding to illness/stress

Hayflick limit

limit to number of times a cell can divide before senescence

free radical theory

gradually accumulate cellular damage, DNA mutation

programmed cell death theory

follows logical timetable, apoptosis/ age related disruptions to PCD w/ inflammation immunity/normal heart aging

no, rare for before 60 years, small percentage for 65-75 years, 50% for 85+ years

do most adults develop dementia?

genetics; men more likely to engage in risky behaviors, abuse drugs/alcohol, less vigilante about health

why do women outlive men?

yes, for some specific types like precise source of info

are memory problems inevitable?

no

do most adults need to live in a nursing home?

dementia

8-10% 65+ years; 30-50% 85+ years

Parkinson’s

may cause neurocognitive disorder; sx: anxiety/ depression/ hallucinations/ personality chnages

vascular disease

cerebrovascular/ stroke; risk factors: HTN, smoking, obesity

traumatic brain injury

loss of consciousness amnesia, difficulty concentrating/ slow processing

substances/ medication induced

heavy use of drugs/ alcohol, problems concentrating/ motor problems

prion disease

CJD; corneal transplantation, injection, physical contact w/ contaminated matter

HIV infection

25%; HAART helps w/ HIV replication/ decreases rates of neurocognitive disease

Alzheimer’s

60%

Stage 1

progressive memory decline, trouble w/ activities, altered mood

Stage 2

compromised independence, forgets family members’s names, gait problems

Stage 3

unable to engage in daily acivities

biology of Alzheimer’s

genetics/ defieciency of Ach, amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles

late on-set Alzheimer’s

mid-60s; most common; may involve APOE gene (increased risk)

early onset Alzheimer’s

30-60s; rare; definite genetic basis

current research for Alzehimer’s

genetics, role of inflammation/CVD/stroke/HTN; plaques/ tangles w/ CVD trigger; older African/ Latino Americans at greater risk

diagnosing Alzheimer’s

fMRI, psychologist/psychiatrist screening mental health, PCP screen physical health, social worker screen for memory function

disengagement theory

older adults should withdraw from society to prepare for death; increases decline/ heavily criticized

activity theory

activity increases satisfaction; increases physical/ mental health

selective optimization w/ compensation theory

select what they do, optimize/maintain what you practice/ learn to compemsate as one ages

successful aging

social connection/ meaningful activity

stages of grief

denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance

grief

psychological reaction to loss/ internal

loss

bahaviors undertaken while grieving/ external

death

cessation of bodily processes, stopped heartbeat/breathing

brain death

complete cessation of activity/ brainstem

euthanasia

painless killing/ permitting death to someone who’s severely injured/sick

hospice

very comprehensive program for terminally ill patients

palliative care

comfort care